Chain breaker



1967 J. L. RICHARDSON 3,36

CHAIN BREAKER Filed March 14, 1966 IN V EN TOR.

J. L Richards on United States Patent 3,360,171 CHAIN BREAKER James L. Richardson, Perote, Ala. 36061 Filed Mar. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 536,182 Claims. (Cl. 225-103) This invention relates to wrench-type devices, and more particularly a chain breaker.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide a chain breaker having adjustable anvil to hold a portion of a chain in place while work is being performed thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a chain breaker which is provided with a retractable lever handle for repetitious chain breaking operation.

Another of this invention is to provide a chain breaker operable with different anvil slots thereby being adapted to breakchains of different sizes and shapes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a chain breaker having storage means for at least one anvil or guide block.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a chain breaker which is inexpensive to manufacture and provides maximum utility to its user.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a rear view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a guide block used in accordance with this invention.

According to this invention chain breaker is provided with a substantially elongated lever 11. Outwardly extending rod 12 is integrally secured near one end of lever 11 and is provided with a helical spring 13 adapted to enclose the upper portion of said rod 12. Vertically extending block 14 is provided with a support arm 15 which is laterally positioned from the upper portion of block 14 and is provided with a hole 16 adapted slidingly to admit said rod 12. Top portion of block 14 is provided with a bolt and nut arrangement 18, 19 for pivotally securing lever 11 thereto. The bottom end of rod 12 is provided with a hardened cutting tool 17 which is suitably secured to said rod 12. Bottom portion of said block 14 is suitably secured to base 22 which is provided with a plurality of holes 20 for securing said base to a flat surface (not shown) at least a pair of aligning pins 21 are provided for positioning of substantially rectangular guide block or anvil 24, which is adapted to admit and secure at least one chain link (not shown). An elongated slot is provide-d within guide block 24 for actual positioning of said chain link or chain links. In addition, if it is desired provisions are made for guide blocks having slots 3,360,171 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 26 or 27 which, if necessary, are adapted to admit chain links of greater width than the one depicted in slot 25. T1115 is to say that the present invention is adapted to make use of a plurality of guide blocks having slots of different thicknesses and depth for accommodating and securing therein a plurality of chain links having various sizes and shapes.

In operation, a guide block 24 is superimposed on aligning pins 21, which removably secure said guide block to base 22. One or more chain links may be inserted into slot 25, or 26, or 27. As it was stated in the above passages, the thickness of each one of said slots is adapted to correspond with the thickness of different chain links. When lever 11 is pressed downwardly the cutting tool 17 of rod 12 is capable of breaking chain link positioned within slot 25, or 26, or 27. As soon as lever 11 is released, spring 13 forces said lever to retract to its original position.

It will also be noted that base 22 is provided with a storage pin 23 adapted to store a plurality of guide blocks 24. These guide blocks are removeably secured on storage pin 23 through their holes 28.

What I now claim is:

1. A chain breaker comprising, a base, a block provided with a laterally extending arm, said block being secured to said base, and elongated lever pivotally connected to the top portion of said block, a rod secured to said lever and extending outwardly therefrom, resilient means for actuating said rod and said lever, said arm having a hole therein for admitting said rod, a cutting tool secured to the bottom end of said rod, a pair of alignment pins secured to the top portion of said block, a guide member having an elongated slot therein removeably secured on said block through said alignment pins, said elongated slot adapted to admit at least one chain link therein while said lever is in a depressed position thereby causing said cutting tool of said rod to break said chain link.

2. Chain breaker, according to claim 1, wherein said base is provided with a plurality of holes for securing it to a flat surface.

3. Chain breaker, according to claim 1, wherein said resilient means include a helical spring surrounding said rod, the top portion of said spring is adjacent to said lever and the bottom of said spring is resting on said arm thereby causing retraction of said lever and said rod when said lever is released from its depressed position.

4. Chain breaker, according to claim 1, wherein said base is provided with an upwardly extending pin, which is adapted to removeably secure a plurality of said guide members thereon.

5. Chain breaker according to claim 1, wherein said guide member includes a substantially rectangular metallic block having a slot therein, said block is also provided with at least a pair of holes adapted to secure said block on said alignment pins.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,063,236 11/1962 Cannon 59-7 3,135,141 6/1964 Aitken 597X JAMES M. MEISTER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CHAIN BREAKER COMPRISING, A BASE, A BLOCK PROVIDED WITH A LATERALLY EXTENDING ARM, SAID BLOCK BEING SECURED TO SAID BASE, AND ELONGATED LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE TOP PORTION OF SAID BLOCK, A ROD SECURED TO SAID LEVER AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, RESILIENT MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID ROD AND SAID LEVER, SAID ARM HAVING A HOLE THEREIN FOR ADMITTING SAID ROD, A CUTTING TOOL SECURED TO THE BOTTOM END OF SAID ROD, A PAIR OF ALIGNMENT PINS SECURED TO THE TOP PORTION OF SAID BLOCK, A GUIDE MEM- 